The 2021 winner of the Barlow Beach Award is Mark Pearsall. Mark was born and raised in Massachusetts, and pursued degrees in Classics at UMass Amherst and Boston University. He has taught Latin and Ancient Greek for more than twenty years at Glastonbury High School in Glastonbury, CT. In 2016, Mark earned his PhD in Medieval Studies at the University of Connecticut.

In 2000, an article in the Hartford Courant quoted his superintendent at Glastonbury High School saying that Mark “has a wonderful way with kids, you see the students applying Latin to their other classes, … He’s managed to engage all of us.” The principal at GHS added that he earns much of the credit for the growth of the school’s Latin program. “He’s magnificent” was the final summation.

Indeed, his consistent engagement with emerging and effective pedagogies in the discipline surely accounts for the many awards and honors bestowed: such as the Phinney Award for Greek teaching, commendations for teaching and service from ClassConn, and CANE’s Matthew Wiencke Award for excellence in teaching.

Since 2005, Mark has contributed nearly twenty presentations and workshops at conferences at many places such as CANE, ACL, the International Congress for Medieval Studies, and at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. He has accepted significant roles of leadership as well, serving in many capacities for CANE, including president, for the Classical Association of Connecticut, and currently sits on the Board of Governors for the American Classical League.

The inscription that appears on the traditional silver bowl he will receive is from Vergil’s Georgics (Book 3), and is as relevant to a teacher as it is to someone who raises goats, as Mark has also done for many years: Caprae quoque non cura nobis leviore tuendae … atque memores redeunt in tecta suosque ducunt. “The kids must be guarded by us with tender care, and, mindful of our concern, they lead their own to our protection.”

Mark Pearsall, on behalf of CANE, thank you for your distinguished service to our discipline and to our organization.